Wednesday, May 13, 2009

10 books in 10 minutes

A fellow reader challenged me today to name 10 books in only 10 minutes that I've read that were important to me in some way.  This is what I came up with:

1) Into the Forest  by Jean Hegland - This is the most recent book I've finished.  It is a novel that takes place sometime in the now during the breakdown of government and services, including the electric grid, telephone, shipping, and gasoline delivery.  What I found interesting is it about two young adults, two sisters and how they live their lives off the 
land after their mother dies from cancer and father dies from an accident.  Incidentally it takes place in the same area of Northern California where I grew up.  I see the land of my childhood in the land of this story.  Highly recommended for many reasons.

2) The Old Man in the Sea by Earnest Hemingway - I love this modern fable of a writer fighting with his demons.  This is a great book to present to the tough man who seldom reads.  From my experience they will read and enjoy this story.

3) The Sun Also Rises by Earnest Hemingway - The best dialog about regret ends this novel.  "Isn't it pretty to think so?"

4) Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier - The writing and language  in this novel is beautiful all on its own.

5) The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields - I must read this one again in my retirement years.

6) The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith - Almost any book I've read by Highsmith has been both intelligent and thrilling.

7) The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory - I love the mind games, the trickery, and the scandal the permeates Gregory's Boleyn novels.  It says much about the human condition.

8) The Owl and the Pussycat  by Edward Lear (Little Golden Book)-  This is the very first children's book that I remember being to read all on my own.  I still know exactly how the cover looks and how the book fit in my small hands.

9) Life of Pi  by Yann Martel - My not-yet-to be husband gave me this story to read when he was courting me.  A great adventure story and worth reading agai
n and again, full of details I have yet to squeeze all the juice out of. 

10) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents."  Loved Jo's character the first time I read it, still do.    I also could never come to grips with the fact that Jo chose Professor Bear over Laurie.  I believe that Jean Hegland (author of the first book) must have read Little Women as well as the stories began the same: Christmas and no presents.

Please share your 10 with us by posting the list in the comments section.  To be honest I came up with mine in just over 15 minutes.  It can take a little longer than 1 minute a
 book.  You don't have to have a reason why for each book either, it can be just a list of titles and authors.

Catherine @ Reading In Montana

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